Cigarette holder



Jan. 9, 1968 5. D. ELLIS 3,362,415

CIGARETTE HOLDER Filed Feb. 9, 1966 2 J.Z J0 J0 A .70

, I INVEN TOR .185 I v Guy 0 Ell/J it v. I BY I29. 5 Afforn ey.

United States Patent 3,362,415 CIGARETTE HOLDER Guy 1). Eliis, 408 N. 16th St, Kansas City, Kans. 66102 Filed Feb. 9, 1966, Ser. N0. 526,249 7 Claims. or. 131-175 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in smoking accessories, and has particular reference to cigarette holders.

The health hazards of cigarette smoking have received suflicient publicity in recent years not to require detailed explanation here, but as is also well known, the practice continues and shows little indication of abating. It is toward the reduction of the possibly harmful effects of smoking that this invention is primarily directed.

It is well known that the inhaling of harmful tars and resins of cigarette smoke into the lungs is increased by smoking a cigarette down to a very short butt, since the smoke then has only a very short distance to travel through the cigarette before reaching the smokers mouth, and therefore the tars and resins are filtered from the smoke by the unburned tobacco only to a very slight extent. In this sense the unburned tobacco acts as a filter for the smoke to remove tars and resins, and this filtering action is reasonably efficient if the cigarette is not smoked too short. The harmful effect of smoking the cigarette too short occurs even in filter cigarettes, since the filter tends to become saturated and the filtering efficiency thereof thereby reduced. Moreover, many smokers object to the use of artificial filters in cigarettes, believing that they impair the tobacco flavor.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is the provision of a cigarette holder which prevents the cigarette from being smoked too short, so that an effective filter length thereof is preserved at all times, so that no artificial filter is needed. Generally, this object is accomplished by means which cause automatic extinguishing of the cigarette whenever it has been smoked to a pre-determined length. In this connection, it may be noted that cigarette smokers who use holders are commonly among the worst oflenders with respect to smoking cigarettes too short. This occurs because their fingers are shielded from or spaced so far away from the cigarette flame that they do not feel the heat of said flame and are not warned thereby that the cigarette is nearly consumed.

Another object is the provision of a cigarette holder of the character described which completely encloses the cigarette and prevents ashes or burning bits of tobacco from falling out of the holder. This of course provides an advantage of neatness, but more importantly is a safety provision, since it tends to prevent fires resulting from carelessly handled cigarettes, and largely eliminates the dangers of falling asleep while smoking in bed, the latter of course being an all-too-common cause of household fires.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, efficiency and dependability of operation, ease and convenience of use, and adaptability for rapid and easy cleaning.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cigarette holder embodying the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the holder as shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a front end View of the holder,

FIG. 4 is a rear end view of the holder,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the holder taken on line VV of FIG. 2, showing a cigarette mounted operatively therein,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the holder opened to permit the insertion of a cigarette therein,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line VIIVII of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII of FIG. 5.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies generally to a straight, tubular body member of suflicient length to contain a cigarette 4 coaxially therein, the internal bore 6 of said body member being of substantially larger diameter than said cigarette. The cigarette may or may not be provided with an artificial filter section 8 at its rearward end. The body member is split longitudinally and diametrically into two sections 2a and 212, said sections being joined along one lateral edge thereof by hinges 10, parallel to the body member axis, whereby the sections may be pivotally opened as shown in FIG. 6 to expose the interior of the body member. The body member is releasably secured in its closed position, as shown in all views except FIG. 6, by a spring clip 12 fixed to section 2a at the side thereof opposite hinges 10, and having a tooth 14 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) engageable with a lug 16 fixed to body section 212. Body member 2 is provided at one end with a mouthpiece 18 of the pipestem type, said mouthpiece also being split longitudinally into two sections 18a and 1812 which are joined respectively to body sections 2a and 212. Body member 2 may be formed of plastic, metal or other suitable material, aluminum having been found quite satisfactory. The mouthpiece is shown as integral with the body member. However, for comfort the mouthpiece should preferably be formed of plastic, and could be formed of separate plastic parts, firmly joined to the body member, if the body member is formed of metal. The mating surfaces of the body member and mouthpiece are smooth and planar, and are pressed together by clip 12 with sufiicient force to provide a reasonably air-tight seal therebetween. Also a scaling gasket between the Inating surfaces could be provided within the scope of the invention.

At the rearward end of body bore 6, but still within the body member, the internal diameter of the body member is reduced, at forwardly facing shoulder 20, to form a cylindrical socket 22 for snugly engaging the butt end of cigarette 4, as shown. Said socket is concentric with bore 6 and is formed half in body section 2a and half in body section 2b. Intercommunicating with the base of socket 22 is a passage 24 which extends through mouthpiece 18 and opens through the rearward end thereof. Said passage is formed partially in mouthpiece section 18a and partially in section 18b. Formed in each of body sections 2a and 2b is a passage 26, which by-passes socket 22, in that it opens at one end into body bore 6 through shoulder 20, and opens at its opposite end into passage 24 behind socket 22, as best shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

Carried in body bore 6 is an annular collar 28, said collar being diametrically split into two sections 28a and 28b carried respectively in body sections 2a and 2b. Said collar sections are slidable in bore 6 parallel to the axis thereof, the external diameter thereof fitting snugly but slidably in said bore. The mating surfaces of the collar at the split thereof coincide with the mating surfaces of the body sections, and are brought together to form a reasonably air-tight seal therebetween whenver the body member is closed. Each body section has an internal flange 30 formed along each longitudinal edge thereof, said flange slidably engaging a guideway 32 cut in the adjacent edge of the corresponding collar section, as best shown in FIG. 8. This retains the collar sections in assembly with the 3 body section to prevent possible accidental loss thereof. The internal diameter of collar 28 corresponds to the diameter of the cigarette, forming a semicylindrical cradle 34 in each of the collar sections, these cradles cooperating to form a reasonably air-tight seal around the cigarette whenever the body member is closed.

The forward end of body member 2 (the end thereof opposite mouthpiece 18) is closed by a wire screen 36 as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Said screen is preferably mounted in a circular frame 35 mounted in an internal peripheral groove 45 formed in the body member. To prevent accidental loss of the screen, frame 38 is prefer ably fixed in that portion of groove 46 formed in one of the body sections (section 222 as shown in FIG. 6), and only slidably engaging the portion of the groove formed in the other body section. The mesh of the screen is Sulliciently fine to prevent the passage of most cigarette ashes, and certainly of any burning grains of tobacco, but does permit the free flow of air therethrough.

In use, the holder is opened as shown in FIG. 6 by releasing clip 12 and pivoting body sections 2a and 2b on hinges 1t Cigarette 4 is then fitted into that portion of socket 22 and into collar cradle 34 carried by one of the body sections, after first sliding collar sections 28a and 28b longitudinally in bore 6 till the rearward face of said collar is disposed at that point in the length of the cigarette to which burning of said cigarette is to be limited. This position may Vary with the personal preferences or opinions of each individual smoker. it is not necessary that the two sections of the collar being aligned with each other with any great accuracy. The only requirement is that the two sections of the collar overlap each other longitudinally of the body member, so as to form an air seal around the cigarette when the body member is closed. It is usually preferable also that the cigarette be lighted before it is inserted as just described, unless the forward end thereof extends close enough to screen 35 that it may be lighted through the screen. The body member is then closed and secured by clip 12, and the smoker then inserts mouthpiece 18 into his mouth and smokes in the usual manner.

As long as the cigarette fiame is forward of collar 23, the only path for air to how from the forward end of the body member to mouthpiece passage 24 is through the cigarette itself. Thus a full draft through the cigarette is maintained, and it continues to burn in the normal manner. However, when the cigarette has burned back to and through collar 23, air can flow through the collar, through bore 6 around the cigarette, and through by-pass passages 26 to the mouthpiece. Since this is a highly open and unrestricted passage as compared to the air path through the cigarette itself, nearly all of the air drawn through the holder by the smokers suction will take the by-pass passage. Thus it becomes virtually impossible, no matter how hard the smoker may draw on the mouthpiece, to maintain a sufiicient draft through the cigarette to support combustion thereof, and it therefore is extinguished for lack of air. Collar 25% may of course be adjusted longitudinally in the holder, as previously described, to pre-determine the length of the cigarette which may be smoked before it is automatically extinguished.

Since socket 222 is bypassed at all times by passages 26, it will be apparent that said socket performs no scaling function, and serves primarily only as a support for the rearward end of the cigarette to prevent possible tilting thereof in collar 28, and to form a stop or guide for insuring proper placement of the cigarette in the holder. Screen 36 retains all of the burning tobacco, as well as most of the fully burned ashes, within the body member, so that there is no danger of fire even if the smoker should drop the holder, as when smoking in bed. Finally, it will be seen that when the holder is again opened as shown in FIG. 6 to remove the cigarette butt, there is no part or passage thereof which is not fully and completely exposed to easy cleaning, as by holding it under a stream of 4- running water. This in itself is believed to be a contribution to the art, since cigarette holders as a class are rather notorious for becoming extremely fouled and unsanitary after extended periods of use, and are difficult to clean efficiently.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be readily apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A cigarette holder comprising:

(a) a tubular body member open at both ends and forming a tubular mouthpiece at one end thereof, said body member having means forming a bore adapted to receive a cigarette concentrically therein, said bore having an internal diameter substantially greater than the diameter of said cigarette, and

(b) an annular collar disposed in said bore so as to encircle said cigarette intermediate its ends, the external surface of said collar having sealing contact with the wall of said bore and the internal surface of said collar having sealing contact with said cigarette said collar being adjustably movable in said bore in a direction parallel to the axis thereof, whereby to engage said cigarette at any predetermined point in the length thereof.

2. A cigarette holder as recited in claim 1 wherein said collar is relatively thin in a direction parallel to the axis of said bore, and wherein said bore forming means has a portion thereof reduced in diameter to form a socket adapted to receive snugly therein the extreme butt end portion of said cigarette whereby to position, center and support said butt end of the cigarette, said bore forming means also providing smoke passages by-passing said socket.

3. A cigarette holder as recited in claim 1 wherein the portion of said bore through which said collar may be adjusted is of uniform cross-sectional contour, and wherein said collar is slidably mounted in said bore.

4. A cigarette holder as recited in claim 1 with the addition of:

(a) a disc-like member of foraminous material mounted in and closing the end of said body member opposite from said mouthpiece.

5. A cigarette holder as recited in claim 4 wherein said foraminous member comprises a fine-mesh wire screen.

6. A cigarette holder as recited in claim 1 wherein said body member and mouthpiece longitudinally and diametrically split into two sections having mated surfaces which abut each other, wherein said collar is diametrically split into two sections having abutting mating surfaces coinciding with the mating surfaces of said body member, said collar sections being mounted respectively in said body sections, and with the addition of:

(a) means connecting said body sections for relative pivotal movement on an axis parallel to the body axis, whereby said body sections may be pivoted apart to an open position exposing the mating surfaces thereof, whereby a cigarette may be inserted in the holder, and

(b) releasable means for securing said body member in a closed position with said mating surfaces abutting.

7. A cigarette holder as recited in claim 6 wherein all portions of the bore forming means of said body member, including the mouthpiece portion thereof, are formed partially in one section of said body member and partially in the other section of the body member, whereby all portions of said bore are exposed for easy cleaning when said body member is opened.

(References on following page) References Cited 2,440,882 5/1948 Walton 131-175 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,155,099 11/1964- MiIlChiIl 131175 3/1881 Corr 131-175 FOREIGN PATENTS 1/1917 Brown 131-174 5 375,190 5/1923 German. 4 1925 h 131-175 22937 131*175 SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner. 3/1937 Martin 131175 JOSEPH S. REICH, Examiner. 

1. A CIGARETTE HOLDER COMPRISING: (A) TUBULAR BODY MEMBER OPEN AT BOTH ENDS AND FORMING A TUBULAR MOUTHPIECE AT ONE END THEREOF, SAID BODY MEMBER HAVING MEANS FORMING A BORE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A CIGARETTE CONCENTRICALLY THEREIN, SAID BORE HAVING AN INTERNAL DIAMETER SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID CIGARETTE, AND (B) AN ANNULAR COLLAR DISPOSED IN SAID BORE SO AS TO ENCIRCLE SAID CIGARETTE INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS, THE EXTERNAL SURFACE OF SAID COLLAR HAVING SEALING CONTACT WITH THE WALL OF SAID BORE AND THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF SAID COLLAR HAVING SEALING CONTACT WITH SAID CIGARETTE SAID COLLAR BEING ADJUSTABLY MOVABLE IN SAID BORE IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE AXIS THEREOF, WHEREBY TO ENGAGE SAID CIGARETTE AT ANY PREDETERMINED POINT IN THE LENGTH THEREOF. 